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Renato Granieri

On the last night, as the light dims, the monks of Rinpung Dzong gather in rows in the main courtyard to chant. Wrapped in thick robes, they prepare for a long, cold night, waiting patiently for the unveiling of the throngdrol.

The intensity of these beliefs, however, extends far beyond special events and festivals: a religion based on peace and acceptance forms the fabric of everyday life in Bhutan, often ranked as one of the happiest places in the world.

The annual unrolling of the throngdrol — depicting the eighth-century Buddhist mystic Guru Rinpoche and eight of his manifestations — attracts crowds hoping to observe and touch the ancient relic. Candlelit prayers continue until dawn, when worshippers present offerings in exchange for blessings.

In the early hours of the final day, scheduled to coincide with the full moon, monks carry the artwork upon their shoulders, accompanied by a fanfare of bugles and drums, before unfurling it down the walls of the five-storey monastery.

The festival culminates with the unveiling of the thongdrol, a scroll artwork that measures more than 190sq ft in size. The tapestry, which dates back to the 18th century, must then be re-rolled before the sun rises and begins to bleach its rich colours.

The town of Paro, situated west of the capital, Thimpu, is nestled in a bucolic valley.

A kingdom of palaces, pagodas and rolling pastures draped across the valleys of the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is a country built around the tenets of Buddhism.

The red-masked Atsara figure is a traditional comedic character, his act combining wit and wisdom, humour and responsibility. His role is to help the audience to forget their worries with his jokes and to puncture their self-importance, hypocrisy and false propriety through his pranks.

Hundreds of people gather to witness the five-day festival in the grounds of Rinpung Dzong, a monastery and fortress in Paro.

Lavishly costumed dances throughout the festival often represent moral stories or incidents from the life of early saints. In the Dance of the Sixteen Fairies, which remembers the sprites that supposedly appeared to Guru Rinpoche, crowned musicians and singers perform to the crowds, playing small hand bells and drums.